Facebook Denies Accessing Users' Text Messages

Posted by samzenpus on Monday February 27, 2012 @02:38AM from the it-was-the-other-guys dept.

quantr writes "Facebook is being accused of snooping on its users' text messages, but the social network says the accusations are inaccurate and misleading. The company is among a wide-ranging group of Web entities, including Flickr and YouTube, that are using smartphone apps to access text message data and other personal information, according to a Sunday Times report (behind a paywall). The newspaper said Facebook 'admitted' to reading users' text messages during a test of its own messaging service. The report also says information such as user location, contacts list, and browser history are often accessed and sometimes transmitted to third-party companies, including advertisers."

3 of 130 comments (clear)

Min score:

Reason:

Sort:

Worst? by SJHillman · 2012-02-27 02:41 · Score: 4, Informative

What's worse? The the fact that they have to deny these kind of accusations or the fact that they're probably lying?
1. Re:Worst? by Enderandrew · 2012-02-27 03:09 · Score: 5, Informative
  
  With iOS, apps just simply have access to this data by default. With Android, for each app you have to specifically grant access to these things while installing the app.
  
  --
  http://blindscribblings.com - Tasty pop-culture in conceptual fashion.
2. Re:Worst? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-02-27 03:17 · Score: 5, Informative
  
  Many smartphones come with facebook pre-installed. I had to root my phone to uninstall it.